Hornets at Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are running out of opportunities to gain ground on the first-place Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference. After dropping the opener of a three-game homestand, the Raptors will try to inch a bit closer to the top spot when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Toronto's 116-109 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday, coupled with the Bucks' win over Miami, left the Raptors three games behind with nine to play. "If someone told you before the game you'd have 20 turnovers and they'd hit 20 3s, you'd say we'd lose by 20," Toronto guard Fred VanVleet told reporters after the sloppy loss to the Thunder. "It's not a recipe for success." The Hornets come into town with some momentum after erasing an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to top Boston 124-117 at home Saturday night. Kemba Walker finished with 36 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists as Charlotte stayed within 2 1/2 games of Miami in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), TSN (Toronto)
ABOUT THE HORNETS (33-39): Walker had 18 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter in a game Charlotte desperately needed in order to keep close in the playoff race with 10 games to play. "You just keep playing," Walker told the media of his team's 30-5 run to close the game. "In the league, anything can happen. Once one team gets momentum, things can change really fast." Rookie Miles Bridges added a career-high 20 points for the Hornets, who play seven of their final 10 games on the road.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (51-22): All-Star swingman Kawhi Leonard scored 37 points in Friday's loss and the team is hoping that their best player is beginning to kick things up a notch with the playoffs looming. "That's what we hope," guard Danny Green told reporters of Leonard. "Obviously he has played at a high level in previous years before this year and in the playoffs and we hope he can reach that level or get back to that level and play at that level in the playoffs for us. We hope that everyone else plays at that level." The same goes for point guard Kyle Lowry, who missed Friday's game with an ankle injury and is doubtful for Sunday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hornets C Cody Zeller (knee) has missed six straight games and SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (concussion) has sat out two in a row.
2. Charlotte SG Malik Monk has 27 points in 36 minutes over the last two games.
3. Toronto has won five straight meetings, including a 127-106 victory at home in the only previous matchup this season.